Definition

1. Noun:

   • The cardinal compass point that is 270 degrees: The direction where the sun sets.
   • A location in the western part of a country, region, or city: The area that lies toward the west.
   • The region of the United States lying to the west of the Mississippi River: A specific historical and cultural region.
   • (The West) The countries of Europe and the Americas: A geopolitical and cultural concept referring to Europe and the Western Hemisphere.
   • A person's name: Refers to specific individuals, such as the painter Benjamin West or the actress Mae West.

2. Adjective:

   • Situated in, facing, or moving toward the west: Describing the location or direction of something.
   • Coming from the west: Describing the origin of something, like wind.

3. Adverb:

   • To, toward, or in the west: Describes the direction of movement or location.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The sun sets in the west. (The direction opposite east.)
  • They moved to the west of the city for more space. (The western part of the city.)
  • The American West was explored by pioneers. (The region west of the Mississippi.)
  • There are cultural differences between the West and the East. (Western nations collectively.)

• Adjective:

  • We live on the west coast. (Situated in the west.)
  • A west wind is blowing. (Coming from the west.)

• Adverb:

  • The storm is moving west. (Toward the west.)
  • Their house lies west of the river. (To the west of a point.)

Advanced Usage

• "to go west" (idiom): To be lost, ruined, or destroyed; to die.

  • After the final exam, my hopes for a free weekend went west. (My hopes were ruined.)

• "West of": Used to indicate a location relative to a point.

  • The town is just west of the mountains.

Variants and Related Words

• Western (adj): Relating to or characteristic of the west.
  • She loves western movies about cowboys.
• Westward (adj/adv): Toward the west.
  • They began their westward journey.
• Westerly (adj/adv): Situated toward or coming from the west.
  • We set off in a westerly direction.

Synonyms

• Occident (n, formal): The countries of the West.
• Sunset (n, in context): Can poetically refer to the west.

Related Phrases

• Wild West: Refers to the western United States during its frontier period.
  • The museum has an exhibit on the Wild West.
• West Side: The western part of a city or area.
  • She grew up on the West Side of New York.

Related Idioms

• "Go west, young man": A historical phrase encouraging migration to the western United States for opportunity.
  • In the 19th century, the newspaper advised, "Go west, young man."

Adjective

1. situated in or facing or moving toward the west

Noun

1. a location in the western part of a country, region, or city
2. English painter (born in America) who became the second president of the Royal Academy (1738-1820)
3. United States film actress (1892-1980)
4. British writer (born in Ireland) (1892-1983)
5. the direction corresponding to the westward cardinal compass point
6. the region of the United States lying to the west of the Mississippi River
7. the cardinal compass point that is a 270 degrees
8. the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

Adverb

1. to, toward, or in the west
   • we moved west to Arizona
   • situated west of Boston